V",  v  ' 


A 


m 


& 


y 


ADDEESS 


OF  THE 


§is|0|  tf  %  giocese  0f  Illinois, 


A  .  D  .  18  5  4. 


PUBLISHED  BY  ORDER  OF  THE  CONVENTION. 


3f  c  to  - 1)  o  r  k  : 

PUDNEY  &  RUSSELL,  PRINTERS, 

No.  79  John*Stkeet. 

•  •  •  • 

1854  . 


^  I 


* 


ADDRESS 


OF  THE 


mm  at  flfais, 


A.  D.  1854. 


PUBLISHED  BY  ORDER  OF  THE  CONVENTION. 


N cro-Dor  k : 

PUDNEY  &  RUSSELL,  PRINTERS, 

No.  79  John-Street. 

•  •  •  • 

18  54. 


/ 


■ 


_ 

/ 


BISHOP'S  ADDRESS. 


Beloved  Brethren  of  the  Clergy  and  Laity  : — 

By  the  goodness  of  God,  we  are  permitted  to  assemble  in  an¬ 
other  Diocesan  Convention,  which,  while  in  title  “  Special,”  is 
designed  to  fill  the  place  and  scope  of  our  Annual  Meeting. 
We  meet  with  our  numbers  undiminished  by  death,  though  the 
cause  of  our  postponed  convocation  may  justly  impress  us  more 
deeply  with  the  uncertainty  of  life,  and  the  peculiar  mercy 
which  prolongs  our  own.  In  several  parts  of  the  Diocese,  and 
especially  in  this  city,  where  we  convene,  that  strange  disease 
has  prevailed,  which,  in  its  short  career  of  a  quarter  century, 
has  hurried  so  many  tens  of  thousands  to  the  grave,  and  taught 
us  all  to  mark  with  anxiety  the  first  steps  of  its  mysterious  ap¬ 
proach.  The  results  of  suffering  this  year  have  been  less  than 
the  earlier  cases  portended  ;  but  there  was  more  than  enough  to 
make  it  unsafe  and  uncertain  to  collect  at  the  constitutional 
period.  By  concert  among  the  clergy,  it  was  agreed  that  the 
appointed  time  should  be  permitted  to  pass  without  any  attend¬ 
ance  ;  and  a  circular,  signed  by  most  of  the  clergy,  was  ad¬ 
dressed  to  me,  containing  a  request  that  I  would  convene  a 
Special  Convention  to  conduct  the  business  pertaining  to  the 


4 


Stated.  On  this  statement  and  request  I  have  acted  ;  and  the 
body  is  now  assembled  and  duly  organized  for  the  transaction  of 
regular  business  under  Article  3  of  the  Constitution.  In  the 
exigency,  the  course  pursued  was  probably  the  best,  as  no  pro¬ 
vision  existed  in  our  Diocesan  legislation  to  meet  it  in  any  pre¬ 
scribed  or  discretionary  mode.  The  event  will  of  course  sug¬ 
gest  the  propriety  of  such  addition  to  the  Constitution  as  you 
may  deem  proper  to  meet  the  case  of  the  prevalence  of  an  epi¬ 
demic  disease  in  the  place  appointed  for  the  meeting  of  the 
Convention.  It  appears  to  me  that,  inasmuch  as  the  cholera  or 
other  sickness  frequently  prevails  in  many  places  at  the  same 
time — rendering  unsafe  the  travelling,  and  inexpedient  the  at¬ 
tempt  to  convene  large  bodies  for  business — it  would  be  proper 
that  the  discretion,  in  such  a  case  left  with  the  ecclesiastical 
authority,  should  extend  to  the  change  of  time  as  well  as  of 
place.  I  would  venture  also  to  suggest,  in  this  connection, 
whether  the  first  week  in  September,  the  date  now  of  our  An¬ 
nual  Convention,  is  not,  of  all  seasons,  the  one  most  exposed  to 
interruptions  from  sickness  ;  and  invite  attention  to  the  propriety 
of  amendment  in  that  clause  of  our  Diocesan  Constitution. 

My  first  service,  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Convention,  was 
September  11,  at  Bloomington,  McLean  County.  An  incidental 
visit  to  this  place  in  June,  1852,  impressed  me  very  favorably 
with  the  prospects  for  the  Church  ;  and  before  a  year  had 
passed,  the  Rev.  John  A.  Bowman,  Deacon,  settled  there.  A 
building,  formerly  occupied  by  the  Methodists,  was  rented  and 
fitted  up  with  great  taste  for  our  Avorship,  and  an  active  congre¬ 
gation  gathered.  On  this  visitation  I  confirmed  six  persons, 
and  ordained  the  Rev.  John  A.  Bowman  to  the  holy  order  of 
Priests.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Cracraft  presented  the  candidate,  and 
with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Niglas,  assisted  in  the  laying  on  of  hands. 

I  regret,  however,  to  add,  that  some  months  since  Mr.  B. 
left  in  consequence  of  impaired  health,  and  has  been  trans¬ 
ferred  to  the  Diocese  of  Pennsylvania.  The  place  occupied  for 


5 


worship  has  also  been  bought  by  the  Roman  Catholics.  This 
has  given  a  temporary  check  to  the  growth  of  the  parish,  but 
has  not  diminished  the  zeal  and  fidelity  of  its  prominent  mem¬ 
bers,  who  will  soon  effect,  by  God’s  blessing,  their  purpose  of 
erecting  a  Church. 

September  13. — Visited  St.  Paul’s  Church,  Springfield,  where 
I  confirmed  three. 

This  important  place  is  now  vacant,  its  esteemed  Rector  hav¬ 
ing  accepted  the  situation  of  Chaplain  and  Professor  of  Belles- 
Lettres  in  Jubilee  College,  in  which  department  he  will  direct 
the  theological  studies  of  the  candidates  who  may  be  resident 
at  that  Institution.  The  change,  though  a  painful  one,  as  sever¬ 
ing  parochial  ties  of  long  affection,  is  valuable  for  the  Church, 
from  the  peculiar  qualifications  of  Mr.  Dresser  for  the  station  he 
has  taken. 

On  Wednesday ,  September  14,  in  Trinity  Church,  Jackson¬ 
ville,  I  confirmed  one  person.  The  only  change  of  note  in  this 
parish  is,  that  the  Rev.  T.  N.  Morrison  has  succeeded  in  its 
rectorship  the  Rev.  Mr.  Worthington. 

From  Jacksonville,  I  proceeded  to  Pittsfield,  in  Pike  County, 
to  consecrate  the  new  Church  edifice  of  St.  Stephen’s,  at  which 
service  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morrison  was  present,  with  the  Rector, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Worthington.  The  structure  is  of  brick.  I  con¬ 
firmed  three  persons.  The  arrangements  for  Missionary  ser¬ 
vices  in  several  localities  in  this  county  from  the  Rector  of  St. 
Stephen’s  have,  I  regret  to  say,  been  arrested  by  his  resignation, 
and  the  field  is,  at  present,  destitute. 

I  spent  the  following  Sunday,  September  18th,  at  Waverley, 
where  Mr.  Dresser  met  me,  and  assisted  in  the  two  services  by 
reading  prayers.  I  here  confirmed  one  person,  and  adminis¬ 
tered  the  Holy  Communion.  The  long-tried  friend  and  father 
of  this  little  Church,  Mr.  Allis,  was  absent  on  a  visit  at  the 
East.  It  has  been  my  effort  to  get  a  Missionary  for  this  dis¬ 
trict,  but  hitherto  the  different  plans  have  failed  to  secure  one. 

The  month  of  October  was  occupied  in  attendance  on  the 
General  Convention.  I  fully  participated  in  the  universal  grati. 
fication  that  meeting  has  inspired  of  growing  harmony  in  the 
Church — closer  fellowship  with  the  Church  of  England — and 


c, 


the  promise  of  still  more  adaptive  relation  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  to  the  wants  and  claims  of  our  own  country. 

October  28. — I  had  the  pleasure  of  assisting  in  the  consecra¬ 
tion  of  the  Rev.  William  Ingraham  Kip,  D.  D.,  Rector  of  St. 
Paul’s  Church,  Albany,  who  has  been  appointed  the  first  Mis¬ 
sionary  Bishop  of  California. 

Sunday ,  November  20. — I  officiated  in  Trinity  Church,  Chi¬ 
cago. 

Thursday ,  November  24,  the  day  appointed  for  public  thanks¬ 
giving,  I  preached  in  St.  James’s  Church,  Chicago. 

November  27,  Sunday. — I  preached  in  the  Church  of  the 
Atonement,  Chicago  ;  and  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day  in 
Trinity  Church. 

November  29. — In  the  evening  I  married  a  couple  in  Trinity 
Church. 

Sunday ,  December  4. — I  officiated  morning  and  afternoon  in  St. 
Paul’s  Church,  Quincy,  being  the  last  services  in  the  old  wooden 
building,  which,  with  many  additions,  had  until  this  time  served 
the  purpose  of  that  congregation.  The  change  was  to  the  new 
structure,  which,  on  Thursday  morning ,  December  6,  I  conse¬ 
crated  to  the  service  of  God.  The  building  is  of  stone,  well 
arranged  in  all  its  details,  and  of  good  architectural  appearance. 
At  the  same  time  I  confirmed  ten  persons.  The  Rev.  G.  P. 
Giddinge,  its  laborious  Rector,  shortly  after  consented  to  sus¬ 
pend  for  a  year  his  pastoral  services,  and  seek  by  change  of 
scene  the  restoration  of  his  impaired  health,  one  effect  of  which 
had  been  an  alarming  disease  of  the  eye.  His  place  has  been 
very  ably  supplied  by  the  Rev.  S.  J.  Evans,  of  the  Diocese  of 
Connecticut.  There  is  promise  that  Mr.  G.  may  soon  resume 
his  parochial  labors. 

April  30,  Sunday. — I  commenced  my  Spring  visitation  at  this 
date  in  Trinity  Church,  Chicago,  and  confirmed  ten  persons. 
In  the  evening  visited  the  Swedish  Church  of  St.  Ansgarius, 
and  confirmed  eight  persons.  The  sermon  was  in  English,  and 
the  address  to  the  candidates  wTas  interpreted  by  the  Rector. 
The  Church  building  has  been  increased  for  the  accommodation 
of  worshippers  by  the  erection  of  galleries.  For  the  coming  year, 
in  consequence  of  the  destitute  condition  of  the  Norwegian  con- 


7 


gregation  of  St.  Olaf’s,  in  Wisconsin,  Mr.  Unonius  will  give  a 
monthly  service  in  that  Diocese. 

May  1*7  and  2 d,  spent  with  St.  John’s  Church,  Lockport, 
where  I  confirmed  three.  Since  my  last  visit,  an  event  had 
occurred  which  I  record  with  peculiar  satisfaction — the  pur¬ 
chase  of  a  parsonage  house,  at  an  expense  of  650  dollars.  It  is 
of  great  importance  that  our  parishes  should  make  early  and 
resolute  effort  to  obtain  a  glebe  and  parsonage.  It  is  due  to  the 
clergy  in  order  to  assist  their  inadequate  salaries  ;  and  the  effect 
is  favorable  in  averting  so  frequent  changes  in  pastoral  charge. 

May  3. — At  Morris  met  the  members  of  the  Vestry,  and  found 
a  very  earnest  and  liberal  spirit  to  sustain  a  clergyman.  The  calls 
since  made  by  them  have  so  far,  however,  been  unsuccessful.  It 
is  an  important  and  promising  place.  Mr.  Robert  Ryall,  now  a 
deacon  of  the  Diocese,  has  rendered  occasional  services  by  Lay 
Reading,  and  being  ordained,  will  become  the  resident  pastor 
and  Missionary. 

May  4. — In  the  morning  visited  and  preached  in  La  Salle. 
We  have  no  Church  building  in  this  place.  It  forms,  with  Peru, 
the  parish  of  the  Rev.  Eli  Adams.  In  the  evening,  in  St.  Paul’s 
Church,  Peru,  I  confirmed  eight.  The  prospects  of  the  Church 
here  are  very  encouraging,  and  liberal  subscriptions  have  been 
given  for  the  erection  of  a  Church.  The  interesting  family  of 
the  Rector  conduct  the  music,  a  son  of  fourteen  years  old  play¬ 
ing  the  melodeon. 

On  Friday ,  May  5,  I  passed  by  way  of  Ottawa  to  Farmridge, 
where,  on  the  morning  of  Saturday,  I  consecrated  the  Church 
by  the  name  of  “  St.  Andrew’s.”  The  Rev.  Charles  P.  Clarke 
assisted  in  the  services,  and  in  the  Holy  Communion.  Through 
his  exertions,  about  three  hundred  dollars  were  collected  in 
New- York  and  Philadelphia  for  the  erection  of  the  building, 
which  is  of  wood,  30  X  40,  and  cost  twelve  hundred  dollars. 

To  the  Warden,  Mr.  Beebe  Clark,  we  are  indebted  for  the 
gift  of  the  land — eight  acres — and  nearly  half  of  the  amount  ex¬ 
pended,  besides  the  finishing,  at  his  own  cost,  the  vestry-room 
and  bell-tower.  It  is  a  rural  district,  and  the  few  Episcopalians 
there  have  worked  with  zeal  and  efficiency.  The  Rev.  Mr. 


% 


8 


* 


\ 


Warner,  from  Freeport,  has  accepted  a  call,  and  efforts  are  mak¬ 
ing  to  procure  or  erect  a  parsonage. 

Sunday ,  May  7. — In  Christ  Church,  Ottawa,  I  confirmed 
twenty  persons.  Ten  of  these  were  young  persons  from  Alsace. 
They  had  been  prepared  for  this  rite  by  a  course  of  instruction 
in  their  own  tongue  ;  and  as  they  did  not  understand  English,  I 
performed  the  Confirmation  service  in  the  French  language. 

The  persons  confirmed  also  received  the  Holy  Communion. 
I  officiated  again  in  the  evening.  This  congregation  has  risen 
from  a  condition  of  great  depression,  by  God’s  blessing,  on  the 
faithful  exertions  of  its  present  Rector. 

Wednesday ,  May  9. — Preached  in  the  evening  in  the  Second 
Presbyterian  Church,  in  Rock  Island.  A  congregation  is  formed 
there,  and  Mr.  Louderback,  of  Davenport,  Iowa,  has  afforded 
them  service  on  Sunday  afternoons.  It  is  a  very  important 
point. 

My  appointments  should  have  taken  me  from  this  place  to 
Galena  ;  but  after  waiting  in  vain  for  a  boat  too  long  to  reach 
that  city  in  time  for  the  service,  I  went  round  by  railroad  through 
Chicago  to  Freeport,  where,  on  Saturday,  in  Zion  Church,  I 
confirmed  three.  The  Church  is  now  vacant. 

Sunday ,  May  14.  — Visited  Emanuel  Church,  Rockford. 
Preached  morning  and  afternoon,  and  confirmed  five.  The  con¬ 
gregation  is  rapidly  advancing  under  its  present  Rector,  Rev. 
Anson  Clarke. 

May  16. — -Accompanied  by  Rev.  Dr.  Smallwood,  and  Rev. 
Dudley  Chase,  went  to  Waukegan.  In  the  evening  I  confirmed 
seven  in  Christ  Church,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Arnett,  of  Milwaukie, 
preached. 

May  7. — I  admitted  to  the  priesthood  the  Rev.  Joseph  W. 
Pierson,  Rector  of  the  Church.  Morning  Prayer  was  read  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Arnett,  the  Lessons  by  the  Rev.  Hiram  N.  Bishop, 
of  Kenosha.  The  candidate  was  presented  by  Rev.  Dr.  Small¬ 
wood,  who,  with  the  Rev.  Dudley  Chase,  united  in  the  laying 
on  of  hands.  The  Gospel  and  Offertory  were  read  by  the  Rev. 
Joseph  H.  Nichols,  of  Racine,  Wisconsin.  The  Rev.  F.  W. 
Hatch,  residing  in  Kenosha,  was  also  present.  The  Church 


9 


edifice  has  been  much  improved  since  my  last  visit,  and  the 
condition  of  the  congregation  is  very  gratifying. 

Sunday ,  May  21. — I  officiated  all  day  in  St.  Paul’s  Church, 
Alton,  confirmed  fifteen,  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion, 
preaching  twice. 

May  22. — Visited  Carlinville,  and  officiated  in  the  evening  in 
the  Methodist  Church.  During  my  .stay  the  next  day,  I  bap¬ 
tized  in  two  families,  in  each  one  infant. 

The  few  Churchmen  here  are  resolved  to  build,  and  will  pro¬ 
bably,  to  some  extent,  accomplish  their  purpose  ;  else  they  for¬ 
feit  four  out  of  eight  valuable  lots  which  they  own.  They  have 
subscribed  among  themselves  a  thousand  dollars,  which,  in  pro¬ 
portion  to  their  means,  is  very  liberal. 

May  24. — Rode  from  Alton  to  Marine,  28  miles,  accompanied 
by  Rev.  Dr.  McMasters  and  Mr.  Schweppe.  In  passing  through 
Edwardsville,  where  we  have  a  deserted  Church,  I  found  that 
the  prospects  for  its  restoration  were  still  unpromising.  We 
arrived  at  Marine  in  heavy  rain,  late  for  the  hour  appointed  for 
service,  which  had  been  commenced  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Griswold. 
There  were  no  candidates  for  confirmation.  At  Marine,  Oak¬ 
dale,  and  Vandalia,  with  an  occasional  visit  to  Edwardsville,  the 
Rev.  Asa  Griswold  has  labored  for  the  past  year.  From  his 
report,  as  from  my  own  observation,  I  consider  that  the  chance 
is  small  of  collecting  a  congregation  in  the  two  places  first 
named.  In  Vandalia  there  is  more  spirit  and  material.  I 
licensed  Mr.  Clark*  of  this  place,  to  act  as  lay  reader,  the  ap¬ 
pointment  being  made  at  his  own  request,  and  the  duties  of 
which  have  been  kindly  and  fully  met.  For  the  ensuing  year, 
Mr.  Griswold  will  make  Vandalia  his  residence,  and  act  as 
Missionary  along  the  line  of  the  “  Central  Railroad,”  below  that 
place,  where  there  are  many  points  of  growing  interest,  and  with 
the  facility  of  that  mode  of  intercourse,  a  long  circuit  can  be 
included. 

May  25,  Ascension  Day. — In  Collinsville  I  preached  and  ad¬ 
ministered  the  Communion,  assisted  by  the  Rector,  Dr.  Darrow, 
Mr.  Griswold  also  being  present. 

On  Friday  morning ,  May  26,  in  St.  Louis,  I  had  the  honor  of 


10 


attending  the  opening  services  of  the  Convention  of  the  Diocese 
of  Missouri,  on  which  occasion  I  read  the  Ante-Communion. 

May  28,  Sunday. — Consecrated  St.  Mark’s  Church,  Chester, 
preached,  and  administered  the  Lord’s  Supper.  In  the  after¬ 
noon  preached  again,  and  confirmed  eleven. 

It  seemed  a  glad  day  of  fulfilled  longing,  and  of  warm  hopes 
to  the  esteemed  Rector,  and  the  faithful  friends  there  of  himself 
and  the  Church.  The  Instrument  of  Donation  was  read  by 
Colonel  Servant,  the  Senior  Warden,  and  the  Sentence  of  Con¬ 
secration,  with  Morning  and  Evening  Prayer,  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Mitchell.  Hitherto  the  labors  of  the  medical  profession  have 
been  added  to  those  of  his  ministry.  I  am  thankful  that  he  is 
now  warranted  in  devoting  himself  exclusively  to  his  parish. 

May  30. — On  Tuesday  evening  I  reached  Albion,  in  the  fer¬ 
tile  region  of  the  Wabash  ;  and  on  Wednesday  morning,  with 
the  usual  services  of  the  Chancel  and  Pulpit,  confirmed  sixteen 
in  St.  John’s  Church.  The  Rev.  William  Clotworthy  had  been 
the  minister  for  the  previous  year  ;  but  on  the  return  to  Albion 
from  Philadelphia  of  the  Rev.  Benjamin  Hutchins,  the  former 
Rector,  Mr.  C.,  resigned,  and  has  since  taken  letters  dimissory 
to  Bishop  Green,  of  Mississippi.  Mr.  Hutchins  is  now  the 
Rector. 

Whitsunday ,  June  4, 1  spent  at  Marion,  Ohio,  where  I  preached 

i 

twice,  on  the  invitation  of  the  Rector,  Rev.  Mr.  Sturgis. 

My  next  service  in  the  Diocese  was  at  Galena,  on  Sunday, 
July  2d,  a  day  of  intense  heat,  where  I  preached  twicej^onfirmed 
eighteen ,  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion.  The  state  of 
the  congregation  is  favorable,  under  the  prudent  diligence  and 
ability  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Benedict.  The  edifice,  which  is  one  of 
the  best  in  the  Diocese,  has  been  improved  since  my  last  visit 
by  a  fine  bell,  and  appropriate  chancel  furniture. 

From  Galena  I  travelled,  by  way  of  Chicago,  to  Peoria; 
where,  on  the  evening  of  Thursday,  I  married  a  couple,  but  was 
not  able  to  hold  any  public  service  from  the  state  of  the  church 
building,  which  was  undergoing  extensive  alterations.  These 
have  been  since  completed,  and  it  is  now  re-opened  for  Divine 
worship. 


11 


On  Thursday  I  went  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Niglas  to  the  German 
Mission  at  Germantown,  and  administered  the  Communion.  The 
exertions  of  Dr.  N.  are  faithful  and  efficient ;  but  very  few  seem 
inclined  to  attach  themselves  to  our  Church. 

On  Saturday  I  left  for  Jubilee  College,  where  I  remained  until 

•  _  _ _  _ 

'Tuesday.  The  Board  of  Trustees  met,  all  being  present. 
Among  other  important  measures,  it  was  determined  to  offer  for 
sale  the  outlying  part  of  the  College  domain,  amounting  to  about 
fourteen  hundred  acres.  It  is  not  required  for  our  main  purpose 
of  moral  defence,  and  cannot  be  advantageously  cultivated  by 
the  College.  This  Institution,  the  importance  of  which,  I  fear, 
is  not  adequately  appreciated  by  the  Diocese,  is  advancing  stead¬ 
ily  ;  and  gradually  overcoming  the  pressure  of  indebtedness, 
which,  though  not  very  large,  was  an  oppressive  burden  for  a 
corporation  so  limited  in  its  annual  resources.  It  merits,  accord¬ 
ing  to  its  capacity  for  the  work,  your  full  confidence,  for  the 
soundness  of  its  instruction,  and  its  careful  guardianship,  in 
morals  and  health,  of  those  intrusted  to  its  charge. 

On  the  Lord’s  Day  I  preached  in  the  Chapel ;  confirmed  one , 
and  celebrated  the  Lord’s  Supper.  In  the  afternoon  I  visited 
Kickapoo,  and  confirmed  one ,  a  descendant  of  the  first  Bishop 
of  Connecticut.  The  Rev.  George  Sayres  has  supplied  this 
place  and  Brimfield  during  the  year ;  but  will,  for  the  ensuing, 
officiate  in  Metamora  and  Pekin — the  Rev.  Lloyd  Johnson,  for¬ 
merly  of  this  Diocese,  but  now  in  Mississippi,  being  expected 
to  succeed  him  at  Kickapoo  and  Brimfield.* 

My  next  appointment  was  an  interesting  one  at  Warsaw,  for 
the  appointed  Consecration  of  its  church,  and  Confirmation.  I 
travelled  eighty-five  miles  by  stage  to  Oquawka,  expecting  to 
take  the  daily  packet  down  the  river.  My  arrangements,  how¬ 
ever,  were  all  frustrated,  from  the  vessel  neglecting  its  usual 
trip ;  and  after  two  days’  delay,  I  was  compelled  to  abandon  the 
hope  of  reaching  Warsaw,  took  a  boat  up  the  river  to  Rock 
Island,  and  returned  to  Chicago  for  my  engagements  in  that 
city. 

Monday ,  July  1  Qth. — In  St.  James’s  Church,  Chicago,  con- 

*  This  valued  young  minister  has  since  died  of  yellow  fever  at  Biloxi, 
Miss. 


12 


/ 


firmed  ten ,  and,  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  seven  in  the 
Church  of  the  Atonement ;  preaching  in  both  places,  and  ad¬ 
dressing  the  candidates. 

On  Tuesday ,  July  18 th,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  consecrating 
Trinity  Church,  Aurora,  and  leaving  that  parish  and  the  Mission¬ 
ary  places  adjoining  in  charge  of  the  Rev.  Julius  H.  Waterbury, 
Deacon,  from  the  Diocese  of  Nevv-York.  Few  of  my  public 
services  in  the  year  have  given  me  more  satisfaction.  The  re¬ 
covery  of  the  enterprise  from  almost  hopeless  depression — the 
completion  of  a  fine  church — the  settlement  of  an  active  minis¬ 
ter — the  gathering  of  a  fair  flock — the  revival  of  Church  services 
along  the  line  of  beautiful  towns  on  Fox  River  and  the  vicinity, 
where  they  had  been  for  more  than  a  year  destitute — were  events 
beyond  my  expectation,  and  were  enhanced  in  influence  by  the 
previous  depression.  I  must  be  allowed  to  add,  that  for  this,  in 
addition  to  the  liberality  and  wise  efforts  of  Mr.  M.  Hall  and 
Mr.  Francis  Hall,  we  owe  gratitude  to  the  Church  of  the  Holy  . 
Trinity,  in  Brooklyn,  in  the  well-ordered  benevolence,  of  which 
many,  besides  ourselves,  have  cause  to  rejoice. 

On  my  return  to  Chicago  I  found  a  telegraph  dispatch,  advis¬ 
ing  me  of  the  dangerous  illness  of-  my  venerable  father  ;  and,  al¬ 
though  my  long  journey  was  performed  in  the  shortest  time 
possible,  I  was  not  permitted  to  see  him  alive.  Perhaps  I  am 
violating  strict  delicacy  and  official  restraint,  when  I  suffer  my 
heart,  which  leaps  to  my  pen,  for  a  few  moments  to  speak.  The 
decease  of  a  parent  so  far  beyond  the  mortal  limit  as  four-score 
and  seven,  must  be,  in  most  cases,  so  associated  with  pain  and 
decay,  as  to  render  the  grave  a  welcome  rest.  Children  are  then 
themselves  touching  the  confines  of  declining  life,  and  probably 
with  a  gulf  of  large  span  between  the  feelings  and  incidents  of 
childhood,  and  familiar  intercourse  with  the  surviving  parent. 
In  our  case,  the  entire  reverse  of  this  has  existed  ;  and  the  play¬ 
fulness,  intellectual  vigor,  physical  elasticity,  and  tender  sympa¬ 
thy  of  the  father  of  our  boyhood,  have  cheered,  guided,  and 
blessed  the  hours  until  “earth  knew  him  no  more” — all  un¬ 
changed — undiminished  :  so  that  I  have  often  felt,  in  my  own 
grave  and  oppressive  duties,  that  my  beloved  father  was  the 
younger  man,  as  he  was  certainly  a  higher  specimen  in  the  beau- 


/ 


13 


tiful  harmony  of  what  is  “pure,  lovely,  and  of  good  report”  in 
manhood.  I  have  accounted  him  for  years  in  this  aspect — har¬ 
mony  of  the  physical,  mental,  and  moral — the  just  relations  of 
the  will,  temper,  affections,  and  taste — the  man  and  the  Christian 
— as  one  of  the  healthiest  and  best  proportioned  natures  I  have 
ever  studied. 

His  grandchildren,  while  they  reverenced  him,  lament  him  as 
a  playmate.  His  children  regard  him  as  the  model  of  a  Chris¬ 
tian  gentleman — a  parent  in  whom  they  cannot  recollect  a  senti¬ 
ment  that  was  not  high-minded  and  honorable — a  habit  of  life 
not  refined,  temperate  and  pure — a  social  relation  not  just  and 
generous.  In  private  intercourse,  his  presence,  as  he  passed 
among  our  households,  was  an  ever  beaming  light  and  warmth. 
His  memory  is  to  us  all,  full-orbed  beauty  ;  and  we  follow  him 
in  spirit  with  grateful  assurance  to  the  waiting  rest  of  the  de¬ 
parted. 

My  father  had  been,  for  many  years,  the  parishioner  and  friend 
of  the  late  Provisional  Bishop  of  Nf,w-York,  and  the  last 
note  I  received  penned  by  him — once  my  pastor,  too — my  friend 
and  brother — was  one  of  affectionate  sympathy,  and  regret  that 
he  could  not  perform  the  last  rites  which,  until  that  hour,  he 
had  expected  to  do.  The  next  bier  by  which  I  stood  was  that 
Prelate’s  own.  The  next  time  my  voice  spoke  in  the  service 
for  the  dead,  was  when  we  committed,  under  the  noble  vault 
which  had  so  late  witnessed  his  consecration,  his  manly  frame, 
as  “  dust  to  dust.”  The  next  tears  I  shed  were  those  which 
mingled  with  as  true  and  wide  a  grief  as  the  “household  of 
faith”  could  well  pour  over  the  dead  Father  in  God.  And  well 
they  might,  in  startled  sorrow,  prostrate  before  the  sovereign 
God.  This,  not  because  they  lost  in  him — nay,  we  lost — it  was 
common  loss — common  grief  for  the  Church  of  God — the  cour¬ 
teous,  talented,  faithful,  laborious  Bishop — he  was  all  this — this 
and  more — but  because  he  was  so  eminently  the  man  for  the 
great  exigency  of  the  Diocese,  and  beyond  all  expectation,  and 
in  face  of  all  fear,  had  in  two  short  years  wrought  out,  by  the  quiet, 
earnest,  straightforward  discharge  of  duty,  results  which  have 
called  out  a  burst  of  eulogy  from  all  parts  of  the  Church. 

It  is  not  the  least  of  that  praise  that  already,  with  all  unaniin- 


14 


ity,  a  successor,  like-minded,  stands  awaiting  his  consecration ; 
testimony  that  the  Diocese  did  “plant  deep  upon  their  Father’s 
grave,  the  heavenly  virtues  of  peace,  and  brotherly  love,  and 
mutual  forbearance.” 

From  the  grave  of  one  Bishop  I  passed,  as  it  were,  to  the  birth 
of  another;  for,  on  Wednesday,  Oct.  18,  by  appointment  from 
the  Presiding  Bishop,  I  attended  and  assisted  in  the  consecration 
of  the  Rev.  Henry  W.  Lee,  D.  D.,  as  Bishop  of  Iowa.  The 
impressive  services  took  place  in  the  Church — St.  Luke’s,  Roch¬ 
ester — the  scene  of  my  own  long  pastorship,  and  of  which  Dr. 
Lee  has  been,  for  several  years,  the  Rector.  From  our  common 
associations  of  pastoral  love  and  labor,  we  have  both  gone  out 
in  jurisdiction  that  borders,  fellow-workers  in  a  less  happy,  but 
wider  ministry. 

On  Sunday ,  Oct.  22,  I,  a  second  time,  visited  Trinity  Church, 
Aurora,  drawn  there  by  the  first-fruits  of  the  success  of  its  ac¬ 
tive  young  minister.  I  preached  and  confirmed  five  ;  not,  how¬ 
ever,  half  the  number  really  prepared,  and  expecting  to  present 
themselves.  Sickness  and  the  state  of  the  weather  prevented 
the  residue  from  attending. 

In  the  afternoon,  I  officiated  ten  miles  farther,  in  the  Metho¬ 
dist  Church,  at  Geneva,  where  I  preached,  but,  from  a  similar 
cause,  the  candidates  for  confirmation  were  absent.  In  the 
evening,  I  preached  again  at  St.  Charles,  in  a  building  erected 
for  the  Swedish  congregation  of  “  St.  Eric’s.”  It  had  passed 
out  of  their  hands,  but  has  been  recently  purchased  by  the  liberal 
effort  of  a  few  Episcopalians,  and  constitutes  part  of  the  pasto¬ 
ral  charge  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Waterbury.  I  here  confirmed  one. 
The  state  of  the  Church  through  this  district  is  encouraging. 
May  God  fulfil  the  work,  to  the  praise  of  His  Gospel ! 

Yesterday,  in  your  presence,  I  admitted  to  the  Holy  Order  of 
Deacons,  Frederick  William  Thomas,  and  Robert  Ryall? 
A.  B.,  Trin.  Dub.  The  ordination  of  these  candidates  was  to 
have  taken  place  at  Aurora,  but  was  postponed  until  the  Conven¬ 
tion,  in  consequence  of  the  absence  of  a  presbyter  to  present.  I  am 
glad,  for  your  sakes,  that  it  was  so  ;  for,  as  with  myself,  so  I  doubt 
.not,  with  many  of  you,  brethren  of  the  clergy,  the  witnessing  the 
solemn  anointing  to  the  Gospel  ministry  calls  up  long  memo- 


15 


ries  from  tile  past,  and  directs  anxious  looks  to  the  approaching 
account  of  our  stewardship,  which  makes  it  good  for  us  to  be 
there.  This  brings  the  record  of  my  humble  labors  to  the 
present. 

I  proceed  with  some  of  the  other  incidents  which  it  is  my 
duty  to  present. 


MISSIONARY. 

The  existing  arrangement  for  Diocesan  Missions  is  an  Asso¬ 
ciation  composed  of  the  clergy  of  the  Diocese  ex-officio,  and  all 
lay  members  contributing  live  dollars  per  annum.  A  meeting 
of  this  body  was  held  at  the  close  of  the  last  Convention.  Sta¬ 
tions  were  selected  with  their  incumbents,  and  the  pledge  made 
to  raise  the  amount  of  live  hundred  dollars  during  the  year  by 
stated  collections  in  the  churches.  The  reports  of  the  Treasurer 
show  that  there  is  a  large  deficiency  in  this  small  sum,  and  1 
fear  unpaid  arrears  rest  in  shame  upon  us. 

The  stations  for  the  Missionaries,  aided  by  the  “  Association 
of  the  Diocese,”  have  been  as  follows  : — 

Warsaw. — Rev.  S.  R.  Child. 

Freeport. — Rev.  A.  J.  Warner,  transferred  to  Farmridge. 

Bloomington. — Rev.  John  A.  Bowman,  stipend  since  given  to 

Grand  Detour. 

Lockport. — Rev.  S.  D.  Pulford. 

Princeville ,  6fc. — Rev.  Philander  Chase. 

Missionaries  of  the  Domestic  Committee — 

Oakdale  and  Marine. — Rev.  Asa  Griswold. 

Germantown  and  Black  Partridge. — Rev.  Dr.  Niglas,  (German). 

Pittsfield ,  dye. — Rev.  John  Worthington. 

Albion. — Rev.  John  Clotworthy. 

Ottawa. — Rev.  C.  P.  Clarke. 

Warsaw. — Rev.  S.  R.  Child,  for  itinerant  services. 

Chester. — Rev.  William  Mitchell,  M.  D. 

Limestone  Prairie. — Rev.  John  Benson, 

Peru. — Rev.  Eli  Adams,  by  the  Philadelphia  Association. 


16 


Chicago. — Rev.  Dudley  Chase,  by  Philadelphia  Association. 
Chicago,  ( Norwegian ,  fyc.) — Rev.  G.  Unonius. 

Aurora. — Rev.  J.  H.  Waterbury,  by  the  Church  of  Holy 
Trinity,  Brooklyn. 

'The  following  clergymen  have  been  received  into  the  Dio¬ 
cese  : — 


Rev.  George  Sayres,  from  the  Bishop  of  New-Jersey. 

“  Asa  Griswold,  “ 

U 

Connecticut. 

“  Anson  Clarke,  “ 

u 

Ohio. 

“  Eli  Adams,  “ 

u 

Ohio. 

“  John  McNamara,  “ 

•  • 

Missouri. 

“  Julius  H.  Waterbury,  “ 

u 

New-York. 

“  J^ouis  L.  Noble,  “ 

u 

New-York. 

I  have  given  Letters  Dimissory  to  four,  viz. : — 

Rev.  C.  E.  Swope,  to  the  Bishop  of  Maryland. 

“  William  Clotworthy,  “  “  Mississippi. 

“  John  A.  Bowman,  “  “  Pennsylvania. 

“  John  McNamara,  Missionary  Bishop  of  Northwest. 

There  have  been  during  the  year  Jive  candidates  for  Orders  :  — 

Charles  Minkler  Taylor. 

David  Walker  Dresser. 

C.  Colling  wood  Barclay,  M.  D. 

Frederick  W.  Thomas. 

Robert  Ryall. 

I  have  consecrated  five  churches: — 

St.  Stephen’s  Church,  Pittsfield. 

St.  John’s,  Quincy. 

St.  Andrew’s  Church,  Farmridge. 

St.  Mark’s  Church,  Chester. 

Trinity  Church,  Aurora. 

And  St.  Paul’s  Church,  Warsaw,  is  ready  for  the  same. 

1  have  ordained  four — to  the  priesthood,  two — Rev.  John  A. 
Bowman;  Rev.  Joseph  Wheeler  Pierson.  To  the  Diaconate, 
two — Frederick  Wm.  Thomas  ;  Robert  Ryall. 


17 


DISCIPLINE.  * 

I  have  deposed  from  the  ministry  Rev.  John  McKeown,  Deacon, 
from  the  Diocese  of  Montreal,  under  Canon  V.,  1850. 

From  other  Dioceses  the  following  notices  have  been  re¬ 
ceived  : — Oct.  20th,  1853.  From  the  late  Provisional  Bishop 
of  New-York,  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Wainwright,  Rev.  William  F. 
Walker ,  sentence  after  trial. 

Dec.  18th.  From  Bishop  Whittingham,  displaced  and  deposed 
from  the  holy  ministry  in  St.  Paul’s  Church,  Baltimore,  Thomas 
A.  Quinan  and  Francis  A.  Baker ,  “they  having  renounced  the 
ministry  and  joined  other  denominations  of  Christians.” 

1854.  From  Bishop  Otey,  deposition  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Good , 
Presbyter,  June  20,  1854. 

In  addition  to  acts  already  mentioned,  I  record  as  summary — 

I  have  administered  the  Holy  Communion  nineteen  times. 

Attended  four  Funerals. 

Marriages,  four. 

Baptized  eight  times ,  sixteen  children.* 

And  on  twenty-six  occasions  confirmed  one  hundred  and  eighty- 
four. 

I  have  preached  seventy-one  times  ;  other  addresses,  twenty- 
nine.  Total,  190. 

And  I  add,  as  a  record  of  God’s  preserving  care,  that  I  have 
travelled  on  official  duty  during  the  year  upwards  of  eleven  thou¬ 
sand  miles. 

In  a  new  and  feeble  Diocese  like  ours,  it  is  not  easy  to 
present  statistically  the  evidences  of  increase  and  prosperity. 
It  is  felt  more  easily  than  it  can  be  described  in  detail.  I  am 
thankful  to  say,  that  the  visitations  of  this  year  have  given  me, 
from  every  quarter,  the  sense  of  cheering  growth.  The  in¬ 
cidents  vary  in  each  parish :  in  one,  the  reviving  of  that  which 
wras  ready  to  perish ;  in  another,  the  upspringing  vigorously  and 
suddenly  of  what  is  new.  Clergy  appear  more  cheerful  in  their 
wrork  ;  parishes  are  better  ordered  ;  churches  enlarged,  or  built ; 
additions  made  to  their  proper  furniture  ;  plans  agitating  for 

*  Some  of  these  out  of  the  Diocese. 


o 


/ 


18 

future  extension ;  and,  what  I  feel,  perhaps,  more  closely,  there 
are  many  valued  brethren  in  other  parts  of  the  field,  who  express 
their  willingness  to  come  over  and  help  us.  Since  the  decease 
of  Bishop  Chase,  I  have  received  and  ordained  seventeen  clergy¬ 
men.  more  than  half  of  the  whole  number  at  that  period.  I  have 
consecrated  eleven  churches,  where  the  whole  number  at  that 

date  was  little  more  than  twice.  I  have  confirmed  over  four 

'  *  J  ' 
hundred ,  nearly  one  halt  of  the  seventeen  previous  years.  There 

were  then  no  candidates  for  Orders.  There  have  been,  or  now- 
are,  six.  Six  new  churches  have  been  admitted  into  union  with 
the  Convention.  This  is  but  two  years,  and  I  thank  God  and 
take  courage.  In  all  this  there  is  small  cause,  indeed,  for  glory¬ 
ing.  It  is  very  little,  compared  with  what,  perhaps,  should  be  ;  an 
atom  only  of  wrhat  might  be.  And  did  all  such  forms  of  increase 
mount  up  ten  and  twenty  fold,  there  might  be,  nevertheless,  only 
more  room  for  shame  and  sorrow7 — if  with  the  outward  there 
were  not  the  advance  of  true  godliness.  Clergy  and  people 
growing  in  truth  and  holiness  ;  harmony  and  confidence  strength¬ 
ening  in  our  borders,  and  the  Holy  Ghost  witnessing  to  His  own 
wurk  in  fruits  for  eternity.  Of  these  deep  things  I  have  hope — 
but  dare  not  speak.  Whether  it  be  so  or  not,  other  records  may 
show.  This  assembly,  “  in  God’s  name  and  presence,”  will 
itself  witness  to  the  Church  and  society  around  us. 

At  the  last  Convention,  I  brought  formally  to  your  notice  apian 
for  the  erection  of  a  “  Bishop’s  Church  and  Residence”  in  the 
city  of  Chicago,  of  which  I  sketched  in  my  Address  the  general 
features.  It  was  a  matter  in  which,  at  the  time,  some  encour- 
aging  progress  had  been  made  ;  and,  as  far  as  I  could  judge, 
with  the  uniform  approval  of  many  clergy  and  laity  to  whom  the 
plan  had  been  detailed.  Two  lots  had  been  procured  in  the 
city  of  Chicago,  purchased  for  the  sum  of  $12,000,  of  which  the 
owrner  gave  two  thousand,  and  I  became  responsible  myself  for 
twenty-five  hundred  ;  the  residue  being  subscriptions  from  sun¬ 
dry  gentlemen,  w7ho  gave  their  notes  for  the  same,  payable  in 
part  in  one  year.  These  notes  were  accepted  as  cash  by  the 
owner,  and  a  deed  given  in  the  name  of  “  the  Bishop  of  Illinois 
and  his  successors  in  office,”  of  the  one  lot  for  the  church,  con¬ 
ditioned  on  the  erection  of  a  building  with  that  object  within  ten 


19 


years.  The  other  lot  lor  my  own  residence  adjoining,  was  not 
1’ormally  deeded,  but  left  with  a  contract  for  the  sale,  in  order 
that  the  amount  contributed  by  myself  might  be  made  up  by  other 
subscriptions,  and  thus  fully  presented  to  the  object.  In  this 
view,  I  had  executed  a  voluntary  engagement  that  the  Diocese 
should  have  the  privilege  for  ten  years  of  purchasing  the  property 
lor  the  permanent  abode  of  their  Bishops,  at  the  cost  price  of  the 
edifice.  This  was  the  condition  of  the  matter  when  it  came  in  its 
general  merits  before  your  body.  I  felt,  as  I  then  expressed,  that 
it  would  not  be  right  or  possible  for  the  Convention  to  implicate 
themselves  in  any  pecuniary  responsibility,  nor,  as  a  Conven¬ 
tion,  own  or  control  the  property.  But  while  personally  assum¬ 
ing  the  main  labor  and  responsibility  of  the  work,  I  was  unwil¬ 
ling  to  proceed  in  such  an  undertaking  without  the  intelligent 
sanction  and  confidence  of  my  brethren  of  the  clergy,  and  the 
representatives  of  the  laity  of  the  Diocese.  With  apparently 
full  and  hearty  unanimity,  this  approval  was  accorded.  In  the 
interval,  however,  between  the  arrangement  for  the  property  in 
December,  1852,  and  the  meeting  of  the  Convention,  Septem¬ 
ber,  1853,  plans  had  been  prepared,  and  some  funds  secured  by 
promise,  and  my  personal  arrangements  had  been  advanced  for 
the  early  commencement  of  the  buildings.  Immediately  after  the 
General  Convention,  I  returned  to  Chicago  for  this  purpose. 
The  result,  however,  was  very  different  from  my  expectations. 
I  found  the  instalments  then  due  on  the  notes  unpaid,  and  some 
of  the  subscribers  unwilling  to  pay  them.  'The  Rev.  Chairman 
of  your  Committee  had  changed  his  estimate  of  the  object,  and 
was  opposed  to  its  execution  ;  and  the  consequence  was,  that 
1  found  it  impracticable  to  proceed  with  the  unanimity  and 
confidence  which  such  a  work,  resting  on  voluntary  benevo¬ 
lence,  must  require,  and  without  which,  I  had  myself  small 
heart  to  press  it.  I  made,  however,  several  pecuniary  offers  to 
remove  the  impediment,  and  obtain  a  proper  title  for  the  lot  on 
which  to  build  my  own  residence.  They  were  declined  ;  and 
on  grounds  principally  of  the  delay  which  had  occurred,  the 
abandonment  of  the  whole,  with  the  re-deeding  of  the  property, 
was  asked  at  my  hands.  This  I  have  hitherto  declined  doing. 
First,  because  I  could  not  admit  the  force  of  the  reason,  as  no 


20 


unnecessary  delay  had  occurred  ;  and  secondly,  that  I  had  doubt 
of  my  right  as  conservator  of  a  trust  to  abandon  property  thus 
early,  which  might  be  occupied,  and  become  the  permanent 
possession  of  the  Diocese,  the  value  of  which  had  in  the  interim 
tripled.  This  train  of  events  has  thus  far  stayed  the  progress 
of  the  undertaking;  and  must,  unless  adjusted,  prevent  it  alto¬ 
gether. 

But  recently,  another  form  of  difficulty  has  arisen.  The  plan 
itself  has  been  strongly  assailed  in  two  of  our  religious  papers  ; 
and  from  notice  in  these  papers,  I  learn  that  a  pamphlet,  said  to 
be  from  “  a  Clergyman  at  the  East,”  has  elaborately  opposed  the 
whole  project.  This  paper  has  been  sent  freely  to  members 
of  the  Diocese,  but  I  have  not  myself  been  favored  with  a  copy. 
From  all  I  have  been  able  to  read  or  hear  on  the  subject,  my  own 
mind  has  undergone  no  change.  The  objections  appear  to  me 
mainly  founded  on  the  possible  abuse,  and  by  far  the  greater  por¬ 
tion  of  them,  to  rest  on  a  conception  of  the  plan  and  purpose — of 
my  own  sentiments  and  language  in  regard  to  it — so  wide  of  the 
reality,  as  to  allow  me  to  concur  in  the  weight  of  those  alleged, 
without  impeachment  of  the  real  project.  To  all  scruples  and 
objections  I  would  attach  respectful  weight ;  and  on  any  proper 
occasion,  would  be  glad  to  meet  them  by  any  fuller  explanation 
of  the  plan  in  its  principles,  or  its  present  limited  development; 
and  to  avail  myself  of  counsel  and  direction  in  the  permanent 
form  of  the  government  and  other  relations  of  such  a  church, 
supposing  it  to  be  erected.  An  Address  like  this  is,  however,  no 
place  for  such  an  exposition  or  discussion.  I  did  not  feel,  after 
the  action  taken  so  kindly  by  this  body,  that  it  would  be  respect¬ 
ful  or  proper  for  me  to  omit  a  record  of  the  facts  ;  but  must  re¬ 
serve  for  freer  communication,  if  need  should  arise,  any  further 
details  or  vindication  of  the  plan.  If  it  be  open  to  the  grave 
objections  which  have  been  alleged,  and  the  portentous  conse¬ 
quences  can  in  any  reason  follow,  which  I  think  a  morbid  imagi¬ 
nation  more  than  a  sound  judgment  have  predicted, — then  there 
would  be  found  no  one  more  ready  than  I  should  be,  to  resist 
such  tendencies,  and  withdraw  myself  from  schemes  beneath 
which  they  might  covertly  skulk.  I  do  not,  cannot  fear  these 
latent  evils,  any  more  than  my  judgment  can  admit  the  more 


-  / 


21 

direct  arguments  which  I  have  most  respectfully  weighed.  Had 
no  abrupt  check  been  given,  like  that  which  has  arisen,  and 
which  could  hardly  have  been  assumed  without  implying  an  un¬ 
generous  mistrust  of  honor  and  integrity,  three  years  would  have 
brought  the  work  to  witness  for  itself.  The  form  of  its  perma¬ 
nent  government,  which  has  been  purposely  left  unsettled  in  de¬ 
tail,  would  have  been  so  wisely  ordered  by  your  counsel  as  to  ^ 
satisfy  honest  hearts,  and  leave  them  free  to  cheer,  in  loving 
confidence,  that  and  all  other  of  our  Diocesan  enterprises.  I  am 
bound  thus  to  declare,  that  my  own  judgment  has  not  altered — 
my  own  interest  has  not  cooled — my  own  will  is  yet  firm  to  act 
with  my  might,  to  create  and  to  conduct  a  Free  Church  for  the 
Diocese,  where  the  bright  succession  of  its  chief  pastors  may 
ever  have  place  to  preach  and  minister  the  sacraments,  and 
illustrate  the  Church’s  duty  of  instruction  and  charity.  At  the 
same  time,  I  must  also  say  in  candor,  that  I  am  not  prepared  to 
press  it  on  in  strife — to  set  myself  against  the  calm  disapproval 
or  honest  doubts  of  the  clergy,  or  influential  laity  ;  or,  under  any 
aspect,  to  permit  it  to  divert  me  from  full  attention  to  the  ordi¬ 
nary  claims  of  the  Diocese.  As  before  in  your  ears,  so  now  1 
utter  what  has  been  and  will  be  my  unvarying  decision — “  1 
shall  prefer  to  guide  myself  in  harmony  with  even  the  adverse 
sentence  of  the  clergy  and  laity,  rather  than  persevere  in  any 
enterprise  uncheered  by  their  judgment  and  sympathy.” 

You  are  all  aware,  that  at  the  last  Ceneral  Convention,  a  Me¬ 
morial  was  presented  to  the  House  of  Bishops,  the  design  of 
which  was,  to  “  submit  the  practicability  of  making  our  ecclesi¬ 
astical  system  broader  and  more  comprehensive  than  it  is  at 
present — surrounding  and  including  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
Church  as  it  now  is — leaving  that  Church  untouched  ;  identical 
with  that  Church  in  all  its  great  principles,  yet  providing  for  as  . 
much  freedom  in  opinion,  discipline  and  worship,  as  is  compat¬ 
ible  with  the  essential  faith  and  order  of  the  Gospel.”  To  me 
now,  as  when  I  first  heard  it,  this  is  startling  language.  The 
wide  sweep  of  its  suggestions  is  filled,  to  my  feeble  apprehen¬ 
sion,  with  distinct  and  indistinct  shapes  of  danger,  revolution, 
and  self-betrayal — and  thus,  I  think,  it  must  agitate  many  a 
Church-loving  heart — breaking  abruptly  not  only  among  endeared 


22 


associations,  but  ominous  for  the  shock  of  great  and  irreversible 
principles.  I  am  obliged  to  confess  my  fear,  but  do  so  only  to 
give  force  to  the  acknowledgment  of  my  conviction,  that  in  the 
inquiry  thus  called  up,  and  the  wise  legislative  disposition  made 
of  its  whole  range,  we  have  the  most  important  object,  next  to  the 
attainment  of  the  Episcopate  and  first  revision  of  the  Liturgy,  that 
has  ever  engaged  this  American  branch  of  the  Catholic  Church. 
Though  it  may  be  somewhat  a  spectral  finger  rising  in  the 
night  season,  yet  it  points  in  the  direction  of  solemn  duty — and 
the  voice  utters  its  broad  practical  truth  of  the  Church’s  being. 
She  embraces  all — she  is  adapted  to  all — she  must  seek  all — 
and  if  she  does  so  in  the  wisdom,  the  love,  and  the  labor  of  Christ, 
she  will  find  all — and  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  stand  in  noble 
stature — seen  of  all  men. 

The  “  Commission  of  Bishops”  have  commenced  their  “  mo¬ 
mentous  and  comprehensive”  work,  and  to  prepare  the  way  for 
their  “  patient  and  anxious  consideration,”  have  circulated  a 
series  of  questions,  addressed  specifically  to  some  individuals — 
but  open  to  the  ministry  in  general,  and  requesting  from  each? 
“answer  to  any  or  all  of  the  questions  in  detail.” 

Copies  of  these  questions  have  been  freely  circulated  through 
all  the  Church  papers,  and  I  beg  to  commend  them  to  the  care¬ 
ful  personal  thought  of  the  brethren  in  the  Diocese.  The  sub¬ 
ject  is  not  one  of  theory,  but  practical.  It  does  not  ask  learned 
discussion  and  speculative  opinion.  It  challenges  facts.  It 
calls  for  the  response  of  experience,  of  want  felt,  and  success 
achieved  in  the  by-places  of  the  Church’s  servants.  It  is 
not  to  be  solved  in  the  midst  of  conventionalities  which  habit 
has  transmuted  into  principles  ;  and  buttresses,  which  may  be 
thus  of  the  earth,  earthy,  supporting  her  stately  fabric.  But  where 
the  naked  open  battle  of  the  Church  is  fought — where  the  sense 
of  lonely  individual  weakness  in  her  minister  gives  life-and- 
death  interest  to  the  deficiency  of  pliancy  and  adaptiveness  in 
the  services  of  the  Church — to  the  want  of  ordered  lay  co-opera¬ 
tion — of  larger  privilege  in  philanthropic  labors — of  defined  and 
yet  vvider  discretion  to  godly  expediency,  without  the  sharp 
check  of  law  framed  for  far  different  objects,  or  the  cry  of  re¬ 
proach  to  hunt  him  down  for  his  treacherous  Churchmanship. 


23 


Let,  then,  the  village  pastor,  the  Western  Missionary,  the  toiler 
among  the  strange  and  fearful  congeries  of  opinion,  energy,  pas¬ 
sion,  apathy,  lust  of  gold  and  hearty  enterprise  which  has  been 
almost,  as  it  were,  hurled  on  this  late  wilderness  by  the  force  of 
a  social  progress  without  precedent — let  such  answer  these 
questions.  I  commend  them,  brethren,  to  you  for  attention,  for 
thought,  for  prayer  ;  and  if  in  reply  to  one  inquiry  you  can  offer 
the  sterling  experience  of'  an  actual  suffering  struggler,  let  that 
word  find  its  quiet  way  to  the  Commission  ;  it  will  there  meet 
with  other  whispers  from  East,  and  North,  and  South  ;  and  as 
they  chord  together,  will  combine  in  one  loud  and  clear  tone  to 
guide  the  doubtful  and  anxious  like  myself,  and  make  our  action 
vigorous  for  success,  because  truthfully  cognizant  of  the  realities 
of  our  age  and  country,  the  Church’s  position  in  the  present,  and 
her  awful  duty  to  the  future. 

My  next  word  is  an  echo — I  thank  God  it  is  so — echo  to  a 
theme  which  is  stirring  interest  through  the  Christianity  of  our 
land — the  inadequate  support  of  the  Gospel  Ministry. 
The  whole  is  onlv  echo  to  another  voice  from  far-off  time  in 
Palestine — “The  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire.” 

% 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  salaries  of  the  ministry  are 
not  merely  below  their  services,  but  inadequate  to  their  actual 
wants,  measured  by  a  social  standard,  far  lower  than  ought  to 
be.  The  relative  expense  of  living  is  so  much  advanced,  that 
the  same  sum  must  be  regarded  as  a  painful  reduction  from  the 
past.  I  know  not  what  we  can  do  but  cast  the  subject  before 
the  honor,  conscience,  and  Gospel  fealty  of  the  laity.  Ours  is 
entirely  “  the  voluntary  system,”  sometimes  regarded  such  to 
the  degree  which  permits  promises  for  ministerial  support  to  be 
broken,  and  pledges  of  subscription  to  be  unpaid-.  But  so  far, 
we  have  rejoiced  that  it  is  thus  : — that  religion  is  free  from  all 
dependence  upon  the  State,  and  the  ministry  dependent  only  on 
the  religious  sense  of  the  country.  It  will  be  a  sad  hour  if  that 
dependence  be  found  misplaced  or  insufficient.  I  have  no  per¬ 
manent  apprehension  that  it  will.  I  am  too  hopeful  in  God  and 
my  country.  Society  is  rousing  to  the  lamentable  fact  that  the 
clergy  in  the  Protestant  Churches  of  England  and  America,  as  a 
body,  are  ill  requited.  They  have  no  reasonable  maintenance 


K 


* 


24 

equivalent  to  their  claims  as  educated,  working  men,  resolutely 
closing  against  themselves  all  avenues  of  worldly  wealth,  dedi¬ 
cating  to  the  ministry  talents  often  which  would  make  them  high 
in  the  lucrative  professions — renouncing  almost  choice  in  place 
of  labor — willing  to  live  reduced  to  a  moderate  maintenance — 
in  faith  for  the  morrow — faith  for  sickness  and  old  age — faith, 
then  most  sorely  tried,  for  helpless  family  orphaned,  and  wife  a 
widow.  These  men,  God’s  own  ministers,  called  by  Him,  and 
sent  as  the  best  gift  Christ  bestows  in  love  to  His  Church  ; 
these  men — I  hush  my  voice  to  a  whisper — beloved  of  the  laity, 
are  almost  starving  ;  they  are  ground  down  to  the  veriest  pit¬ 
tance  ;  and  life’s  heartiness,  dignity,  affection,  and  power  are 
shrunk  and  withered  by  the  shifts  of  poverty.  My  tongue 
would  blister,  however,  if  in  this  I  spoke  of  charity.  No,  their 
maintenance  is  a  right — God-imparted,  God-defended  right.  In 
view  of  it,  the  Apostle  almost  takes  the  tone  of  irony  : — “  Is  it  a 
great  thing?”  “  If  we  have  sown  unto  you  spiritual  things,  is  it 
a  great  thing  if  we  shall  reap  your  carnal  things  ?” 

What  makes  this  inadequate  support  of  the  ministry  worse,  is 
that  it  is  an  acknowledged  fact  in  times  of  unprecedented  pros¬ 
perity.  As  a  friend  spoke  in  the  Metropolis  of  England,  writing 
with  “  Mother”  and  “  Daughter”  alike  before  his  mind — as,  I  am 
sure,  they  are  in  his  warm  heart — “  Within  the  last  few  years, 
the'wealth  and  resources  have  been  advancing  with  unprece¬ 
dented  rapidity.  Capital  has  been  accumulating  almost  beyond 
belief ;  gold  pouring  into  the  country  inexhaustibly  from  both 
hemispheres  ;  new  machinery  constructed,  new  markets  opened, 
and  this  great  emporium  of  the  world  making  every  day  and 
every  hour  some  fresh  display  of  riches,  power,  taste,  luxury, 
and  science  ;  but  unhappily,  as  yet  there  is  no  corresponding 
improvement  in  provision  for  the  clergy.  On  the  contrary,  their 
circumstances  are  becoming  annually  worse  ;  their  wants  more 
urgent ;  their  position  more  contradictory  and  distressing.”* 

And  in  this  strange,  mighty  West — in  this  part  of  that  West — 
what  has  been  going  on  ?  Are  there  not  hundreds — thousands, 

*  The  Ven.  Archdeacon  Sinclair’s  Sermon  in  the  Cathedral  Church  of 
St.  Paul,  (London),  at  the  “  Festival  of  the  Sons  of  the  Clergy.” 


25 


rich  now  to  repletion — who  a  few  years,  almost  months  ago, 
were  poor  ?  How  has  this  happened  ?  Whence  came  this 
wealth  ?  Did  they  wring  it  from  the  earth  by  the  sweat  of  the 
brow  ; — gather  it  little  by  little,  the  savings  of  studious  or  brawny 
toil  ?  It  has  come  to  them  a  great,  sudden  endowment  from 
God,  almost  as  independent  of  their  labor  in  creating  it  as  if  it 
had  rained  down  from  heaven.  Social  advances,  mighty  Prov¬ 
idences,  new  lands,  the  shaking  of  other  powers  by  revolution, 
famine,  pestilence — national  prosperity  beyond  census — these 
have  combined  in  what  the  world  calls  “  enterprise.”  This  has 
come  with  swift  wing  far  out  here,  and  rushed  on  far  beyond, 
chasing  the  receding  West ;  and  here  and  there  its  foot  has  just 
touched  the  poor  acre  on  which  the  owner  might  have  lived  a 
beggar  had  he  tilled  it ;  and  it  is  Gold,  Gold!  He  is  a  rich  man. 
And  now  what  will  that  God-endowed  man  (their  name  is 
legion)  do  ?  Content  himself  with  the  measure  of  the  past — 
gauge  his  duty  by  what  his  neighbors  are  willing  to  do — satislied 
to  pay  his  pew-rent  as  a  benevolent  offering  to  Christ !  Or  will 
he  feel  that  the  measure  of  gift  is  as  he  has  received,  and  divide 
this  strange  surprise  of  wealth,  and  let  Christian  education,  the 
Ministry,  the  Church’s  work,  the  sick,  the  poor,  and  the  outcast 
become  endowed  too  from  the  just  stewardship  of  his  grateful 
Christian  heart  1  But  I  forget  my  exact  position.  My  theme 
betrays  me  ;  and  I  draw  back  to  the  colder  tone  of  legislation. 
Brethren  of  the  laity,  in  this  matter  we  are  powerless.  It  is  for 
you  to  devise,  for  you  to  act,  to  relieve  the  worn  heart  of  the 
Ministry,  to  nerve  the  Missionary,  and  call  out,  by  the  blessing 
of  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  laborers  adequate  to  the  need.  For 
all  which  we  shall  not  cease  to  pray. 

There  was  another  subject  on  which  I  wished  to  touch,  but 
from  which  I  am  warned  from  the  length  to  which  this  Address 
has  already  proceeded — attention  to  the  religious  instruc¬ 
tion  of  the  young.  The  concurrent  interest  in  this  is  required 
of  minister  and  people — of  the  one  to  provide  the  occasions  for 
Catechetical  and  Bible  instruction,  and  in  the  people  to  avail 
themselves  with  earnest  tidelity  of  the  privilege  in  behalf  of 
heir  children. 

The  effect  is  beneficial  on  the  present  growth  of  a  parish 

3 


where  this  department  is  well  fulfilled  ;  but  in  it,  and  kindred 
instruction  in  the  Sunday  School,  is  to  be  found  the  great  con- 
servative  power  of  our  land — that  which  is  to  evangelize  the 
teaching  of  the  Common  School,  and  save  us  from  becoming  a 
nation  of  unbelievers.  On  this  I  must  forbear. 

Brethren  of  the  Clergy  and  Laity,  I  commend  you  and  your 
deliberations  to  the  guidance  of  the  Blessed  Spirit,  that  He  may 
take  from  our  hearts  all  selfishness,  prejudice,  and  bitterness  ; 
till  us  with  the  wisdom  which  is  from  above — first  pure,  then 
peaceable,  gentle,  easy  to  be  intreated,  full  of  mercy  and  good 
fruits  ;  make  our  counsels  the  directory  for  honest  working,  and 
our  works  the  honored  means  of  advancing  the  Church  of  our 
Redeemer. 


